In the world of the NBA, narratives usually shift at a glacial pace. Teams are labeled “rebuilders” or “contenders” in October, and those labels rarely change before the playoffs. However, the Charlotte Hornets have just shattered that convention. In a transformation that has left data analysts and rival coaches stunned, the Hornets have spent the month of January 2025 playing like the best team in professional basketball. While their 20-28 record might suggest mediocrity, the advanced metrics tell a completely different story: Charlotte currently sits at the top of the NBA in net rating for the month, boasting the league’s #1 offense and a top-5 defense.
The catalyst for this sudden explosion is a perfect storm of health, coaching, and historic rookie performance. At the center of it all is Khan Kupple, the fourth overall pick who has moved past the shadow of his college teammate Cooper Flagg to become the undisputed frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. Kupple is currently on pace to become the first rookie in NBA history to join the prestigious 50/40/90 club—a feat never accomplished by Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Kevin Durant. His efficiency is staggering, ranking third in the league in made three-pointers behind only Steph Curry and Donovan Mitchell.
But Kupple isn’t a solo act. Brandon Miller has taken a massive leap in his second season, emerging as the two-way wing the Hornets have craved for years. Miller is currently the team’s leading scorer, but it’s his defense that is turning heads. Opponents are shooting 10% worse at the rim when Miller is the primary defender, putting him in the 91st percentile leaguewide. With a wingspan and defensive instincts that draw comparisons to Paul George, Miller is providing the “glue” that allows Charlotte’s high-powered offense to thrive without sacrificing the other end of the floor.
Perhaps the most important development, however, is the maturation of LaMelo Ball. Often criticized for a “flash over substance” playing style in the past, the 2025 version of LaMelo is playing the most disciplined basketball of his career. While his raw scoring numbers are slightly lower, his efficiency and impact are at an all-time high. When Ball is on the floor, the Hornets’ offensive rating jumps to an elite 122.3; when he sits, it craters to 112.1. His commitment to the “little things”—diving for loose balls, communicating on defense, and trusting his teammates—has set a new culture of accountability in the locker room.
This culture shift can be traced directly to new head coach Charles Lee. Bringing the championship pedigree he earned as a lead assistant with the 2024 Boston Celtics, Lee has implemented a modern, spacing-heavy system that ranks third in the NBA in three-point attempts. More importantly, he has convinced a young roster to take pride in the “grind.” The result has been a series of statement victories, including a 27-point blowout of the Thunder in OKC and a 37-point demolition of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite their 11th-place standing in the Eastern Conference, the Hornets’ “expected” win-loss record suggests they should have won several more games in January, having lost heartbreakers to Toronto, Indiana, and Milwaukee by a combined handful of points. This “clutch time” execution is the final hurdle for a team that is statistically dominant but still learning how to close out veteran squads. With the trade deadline approaching, rumors are swirling about potential upgrades at the big man position, but many analysts believe Charlotte’s best move is to stay the course and allow their young core to continue building chemistry.
The “Caitlin Clark Effect” of the NBA might just be the “Charlotte Hornets Effect.” They are a young, exciting team that is suddenly drawing massive engagement and viewership numbers because they play a style of basketball that is fast, efficient, and undeniably fun. Whether they can bridge the 7.9% gap to make the play-in tournament remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the days of overlooking the Charlotte Hornets are officially over. They are no longer a “rebuilding” project; they are a warning to the rest of the league that the future has arrived ahead of schedule.
